ECommerce Business Terminology

B2B (Business to Business):

The exchange of goods and services between two businesses.

B2C (Business to Consumer):

The exchange of goods and services with the end consumer being the target market.

Co-Branding:

The practice of two companies advertising a partnership or affiliation by displaying each others logos or other branding messages on company websites or other online profiles.

E-Commerce:

ecommerce, e-commerce, or electronic commerce is the conduct of a financial transactions by electronic means.  Within the context of this website, ecommerce refers to shopping at online stores on the World Wide Web. But e-commerce can also include online services,  subscriptions, or digital marketing.  Ecommerce can be business to business (B to B) or business to consumer (B to C)

Merchant Account:

A merchant account is basically an account set up with a bank that will, for a fee, handle your business transactions and communicate with your payment gateway, customer’s bank and card issuer.

Payment Gateway:

A payment gateway is an essential system used by businesses, both online and off, to allow for the processing of credit cards. It acts as the bridge between the customer, merchant and financial bodies (card issuers, banks, etc) involved in a transaction.